Find my stamps at Art Gone Wild!

Thursday, December 30

I don't like giving money at holidays and birthday - I think it's really impersonal. I spend a lot of time thinking about gifts to make or give people I care about - but money is really just boring.

What do you give the kid that LOVES money? Well, money of course. My challenge this year was how to package up money for my nephew - and I thought about it for at least a month.

This is what I came up with.

At first he wasn't sure how to get the money out -- or how I got the money in there! I think he's figured it out by now! You could do the same thing with a gift card - or tiny gift that would fit in the slot in the center. He loved the idea, and he can put a couple of favorite pictures in there now that the money is gone.

Hope you had a great Christmas!! I told my husband that next year we are going to volunteer at a soup kitchen on Christmas eve or day - so we can give back to the community to those less fortunate - and for our son to realize what a great life he has. So we can all realize how blessed we are.

Anyway, moving right along....now that the hubbub of Christmas is over - the tree and all decorations down -- it's time to think about the New Year. Resolutions. Plans. Wishes. All that we want to accomplish in the year....oh, my head hurts!

Friday, December 24

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale

Or, you could use the Dali lens on your hipstamatic app to make everything look soft and beautiful.

It's such a busy time of the year - and this one for me seems like it's been busier than ever! Appointments, and days spend crafting, cooking and shopping - it's more than this home body can handle.

I've made 4 batches of nut brittle, a batch of special chocolate chip cookies, 4 batches of truffles, petit fours and crafted several special presents that I can't share until after tomorrow - I guess that explains my lack of posts here!

A heartfelt thanks for your visits and comments, I'm wishing you all a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Tuesday, December 14

Actually, we don't usually put our tree up until the weekend before Christmas, so we'll be getting one this weekend and getting it up. We did decorate the outside of the house last weekend and get some decorations out here and there.....but that's it.

I've been so busy - that today I finally stopped and thought - OMG - 2011 is in a couple of weeks. That means taxes, resolutions and all that fun stuff to deal with. URGH. At least it only comes once a year!

I've been busy working on classes and projects this week so I haven't made anything to share with you - but I do want to remind you that I'll be drawing a winner of the felt ornament tomorrow night - so it you haven't posted a comment on that post you'll want to do that SOON.

Well, back to work. My to-do list for today is still VERY long -- and the day is almost over! Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

Saturday, December 11

I've shared quite a few of these wool felt ornaments that I've made this season here on my blog - and I thought what better way to really share than to have a give-away and give one of them away! Plus, it's been a long time since I had a give away on my blog so I decided it was time.

I spent a little bit of time this morning in my studio before getting my day started making these little lovelies to use as package decorations on my gifts this year. I'll have to make some more now that I'm giving one of them away, but that's ok since I love making them.

Leave a comment for me on this post telling me what you're favorite holiday tradition is -- and I'll pick a winner on Wednesday -- that's December 15th!

Thanks for stopping by - Good LUCK!

Edited to Add: Make sure you leave your email address or a way for me to contact you if you are a winner!

Thursday, December 9

Do you ever have a project that you want to do around the house -- and you prop the supplies up so that every time you walk by you see them...hoping that you can get to your project when you have a free minute?

I do that. A lot more than I care to admit!

Sometimes though, you just have to take the horse by the reins and get it done. Or you have a friend coming over and you don't want her to see the stuff sitting there -- where it was -- the last time she visited - so you tackle the project just hours before she's supposed to arrive.

That's what happened to me on this project. I had this old quilt - I remember the exact moment I saw it at a yard sale in 1991. It was sitting in an old baby crib - alone and neglected. I paid $8.00 for it and used it all the time -- it was definitely love at first sight, at least for me it was! That was almost 20 years ago, my poor old quilt has definitely seen some better days and has been sitting in the closet since we moved here. That is until I put her on a cafe rod in my window to see what she would look like as a valance.

I'm pretty happy that I decided to pull her out of the closet and make her into some home decor items for my studio -- she's looking as lovely to me today as she did way back then when I bought her.

After assessing what I needed - and if I had enough - my favorite little yard sale find is now a cushion cover for the wicker chair that used to be my Grandmothers -- my little dog loves to lay in this chair with me in the studio.... the quilt over the back of the chair is so I can cover her up. Yes, she's spoiled - but the chair looks great.

I also had enough to make a couple of valances to hide the ugly shade hardware on my windows. This was easy. I measured the width of the window and decided how long I wanted the valance to be and cut the quilt 2" bigger on the width and 4" longer on the length. I hemmed the sides with a quick visit to my sewing machine and made a sleeve for a cafe curtain rod to slip in and I was done and they were ready to hang.

I will say this though – I think it looks a lot better in person!

I also made a little curtain to hide my file cabinet and the two ugly plastic bins under the counter. I hate those plastic bins - but until I find something else I have to use them.

I even have enough left to make a cover for my sewing machine and hopefully a slip cover for the back of my office chair. But those two projects will have to wait for another day cause I've got a lot of other projects calling my name. Do you have an old quilt that you can re-purpose into home decor - like pillows or slip covers. Your old, neglected quilt will be so happy have a new use!

Tuesday, December 7

Cleaning Out the Craft Closet—Post to our Blog for a Chance to Get FREE STUFF!

As you can imagine with all our great brands, the shelves of at the EK Success craft closet are sagging with holiday products that are left over from all the project-making we've done for them. So they are going to do a big giveaway:

Three (3) boxes of FREE STUFF will go to the three of you who post to the EK
Success Brand Buzz blog with a favorite holiday memory that most touches our
hearts (or our funny bones)!

There’s a short leash on this little blog-posting contest: post anytime between now and midnight on December 8th, 2010—that’s tomorrow !! and we’ll pick the winners on the 9th. Watch your email to see if you’re a winner (that’s the only contact information we will have for you), then if you’re one of the lucky ones, send us your mailing address and we’ll get your box shipped out right away so you can enjoy using the products this Christmas.
So get busy and share a special memory on this EK Success blog post for a chance to win BIG!!

One of the things I really LOVE about working with EK Success Brands is that I get to work on some really cool projects. Like the PBS Craft show Crafting at the Spotted Canary. I got to make projects THAT.WERE.FEATURED on the show - AND to be crafting with Joy MacDonnell on two episodes -- was so exciting. She is so cool and fun too – LOVE her! Great things always happen when Joy is around!

Anyway, from that experience I was asked to create a video called A Year in the Life -- which was unveiled YESTERDAY at the Spotted Canary ! It was a lot of work – but I didn’t have to do it all by myself – my team mates helped me a LOT with pages and step-outs. And my wonderful husband was the cinematographer -- even my little guy helped out in the production of the video. His request for payment – a trip to Gelato Fiasco.

So, I bet you are wondering where you can find this FREE On-Demand Class. Go to the Spotted Canary Website, here and register. They’ll send you a password with all the details you’ll need to get started.

Oh, but I’m not done yet!! The lovely elves behind the scenes have asked me to host a Sketch Challenge in the Challenge Forum at the Spotted Canary – it’s open to everyone that is a registered user on the site.

Here’s how you can enter:

Read the official contest rules

Join the flock

Register for our FREE on-demand class and download the three layout sketches offered through the class

Post a project using one of the sketches To qualify, project must utilize one of the three sketches as its inspiration. Please list the sketch used in your description or product listing.

Tell us about it: Visit the contest Forum thread and post a comment with a link to your project!

Contest ends January 31, 2011.

What You Can Win:

An amazing PRIZE Package from the sponsors of the Spotted Canary!!

Phew, I’ve been busting at the seams lately trying not to spill the beans….it feels so GREAT to share with you! THANKS for stopping by, I hope to see you over at the Spotted Canary!

Monday, December 6

I know I said that it was going to snow over the weekend - but we didn't really have any accumulation at all. Today we had snow - and it accumulated -- even if it was only a couple inches - accumulation or not --- I wasn't wanting it. I didn't get the snowtires put on my car yet - and I had things to do around town....but it worked out and I got out and got home with no problems. THANK you God!

I got together with my crafty pal Kelley today and we spent some quality time crafting. I got some new cream colored felt and was itching to make some more felt ornaments -- thinking I'll list them in my Etsy shoppe.

They were so much fun to make -- and my Spellbinders Circle Dies came to the rescue. I am addicted to Spellbinders, really I am! I'm always thinking of new things to make with them.

Don't you love the vintage jingle bells, another lovely find from Brimfield last year!

Thanks for stopping by - hope it's not snowy and frightful where you are!

Friday, December 3

My newest class at My Creative Classroom, the Ins and Outs of Artist Trading
Cards -- starts next week -- December 10th. There's still time, so head on
over to My Creative Classroom to register!

We will start this 4 week, 8 lesson long class with a tutorial on ATC's and
a slide show showing some of the creative possibilities you can incorporate
into an Artist Trading Card.

After the presentation the first week we will begin our lesson with a little
album to store our trading cards. Some free images, an ATC digital stamp and
quotes to add to your ATC's will be available for download through out the course.

Following weeks will continue to feature 2 lessons per week - released on
Tuesdays and Fridays with each lesson focusing on a different technique -
you'll have a completed ATC at the end of each lesson. At the end of the
course you'll have quite a few Artist Trading Cards to trade with your
friends.

Note: ATC's shown here are not the examples we'll be making during the course.

A few of the techniques we'll touch on include image transfers, hand and
machine sewing, painting on stamped images and more!

THANKS for stopping by, I hope to see you in my class at MCC, if you're not into ATC's I've got some new classes coming in the Spring and Winter sessions that might be exactly what you are looking for! Enjoy your weekend.

Thursday, December 2

I've been working like a crazy horse this week finishing up my last lesson for Spellbinders Projects over at My Creative Classroom - and getting the first class of 2011 ready for enrollment. I can hardly believe that IT. IS. ALMOST. 2011. Where has the dang time gone? It seems like just yesterday it was 2001 and my boy was just a baby.

I've got my Winter/Spring Line-up of classes at MCC all planned out - and the new classes I'll begin developing next week are really exciting.

A little Mixed Media - and a LOT of Spellbinders. ALOT, and I'm really excited about the Spellbinders classes.

In the meantime, I've got to get back to work preparing the classrooms, developing the lessons and getting my classrooms ready for LOTS of learning!

thanks for stopping by, hope you are having a great week and are crossing things off your Holiday Lists and making sure to be a little bit naughty and a whole lot nice!

Monday, November 29

While I was away on my Blog Hiatus - I guess that's what it turned into since I was away from blogland for so long - I decided I couldn't live without the 2010 Christmas Heirloom Ornament Die Template set from Spellbinders. It came while I was in New Jersery working in the EK Success Brands offices the week before Thanksgiving.

I ordered it with a specific project in mind - to make an ornament for a fun International Ornament swap that my friend Nat organizes every year - and it needs to be in the mail by tomorrow. I usually never manage to get my projects done to early - meaning I procrastinate on Facebook or other special places on the internet and then am down to the wire to get things done - but this one I couldn't wait to sink my hands into so I got right to it last weekend! I know, I was shocked too.

I had made a similar project for one of Spellbinders classes at My Creative Classroom so i knew how this was going to go down....and I had a plan - just not enough felt. I could have made ornaments all day long!

These two ornaments came out so beautiful - now I want --- no need to get some more felt so I can make more. They are really fun - to make...and they smell great because I filled them with lavendar. I think I'll look for some cedar for the next batch!

Speaking of My Creative Classroom, I've got a new class starting up on December 10th -- the Ins and Outs of Artist Trading Cards -- hope to see you there! We're also working on the Spring Line up and I've got some fun new classes planned for then too!

Every year I search and search for the perfect photo frame to send our Christmas cards in…but this year I decided to try the pretty cards available at Shutterfly -- I will still make a few handmade cards for some very special people, hopefully time doesn't get away from me.

I love the way this card came out - and it was oh – so easy. They were on sale and I got free shipping - remember to enter the code SHIP25 during check out so you can get free shipping too!

Saturday, October 16

I'd like to remind and invite you to sign up for the weekend workshop I'll be co-teaching with fellow cover girl Sue Pelletier, she the one that dreamt up those lovely snowman bottles you've seen on the cover of Clothe Paper Scissors. They are totally adorable and Sue is just as adorable.
Join us in South Portland, Maine on November 12, 13 and 14 for this wonderful weekend intensive Vintage Holiday Frenzy! More details about the location and payment info can be found at ArtEscape Studios. Also, take a minute to check out Sue's blog - she's got some beautiful creations on there!

Here's a quick Description of the class:
The techniques and innovative design ideas you will learn in this workshop will brighten any holiday season. After you make a very personalized block house with board, 2 snowmen made from bottles and many embellishments, a pennant spelling “JOY”, sewn paper cards that meld the paper world with fiber world, you will come home with a plethora of ideas for embellishments and decoration. Catherine and Sue will show you a world of creative possibility

Here's yours truly with Sue this summer when we met to nail down the details.

anyway, hope to see you there. Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your weekend. It's pajama day in our house. The little big one has conjunctivitis and is really tired - so we're kicking back relaxing.

Friday, October 15

Remember that secret trip I took to Cleveland in June that I couldn't talk about until it was time....well the time has come. I traveled to Cleveland to be a guest on the new show, Crafting with the Spotted Canary.

Here's a little video you can watch about it:

Crafting with the Spotted Canary airs on October 21st - and will be available on PBS channels.

While I was in Cleveland I filmed 2 episodes with Joy....but I'm not sure when they will air - so you should watch them all. I did create quite a few projects for the show - but I wasn't a guest on the show on those days. It was a fun experience, which has led me to another fun project with the Spotted Canary, which hopefully you'll be able to check out before the end of the year. And, be sure to check out the Spotted Canary on the internet - it's a great place full of inspiration and creativity!

Enjoy your Friday, and let me know how you like the new TV Show! Thanks for stopping by and letting me share this exciting accomplishment with you!

Thursday, October 14

Alpha, Border, Corner, Shapes...yes, I'm talking about paper punches, of
course! There's so many available for your paper crafting projects and
they're experiencing a comeback in popularity right now. Come join me in
this 4 week class as we take a look at these great crafting tools in a new
way. Learn punch maintenance and how to extend the life of your punches.
Learn about the different types of punches available.

Get creative with your punches as we make several cards, a pretty Home Decor
item, scrapbook page and several Artist Trading Cards!

Wednesday, October 13

I took a little break from the mounds of work going on around here to go for a little walk with my boy and get some fresh air after school today.

As you can see, the weather here was glorious - bright, clear blue sky, a little chill in the air, perfect for strolling. Just look at the reflection of the sky in my river. It was the perfect time on an autumn day to take some pictures.

He wasn't to pleased with this picture, LOL. He's learned to get over it by now.

For man, Autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. Edwin Way Teale

All my courses have detailed presentations with pdf handouts that you can print for future reference, class forums so you can get to know your fellow classmates, chat sessions and a student gallery for sharing your work.

Here's a sneak peak from one of the lessons I presented in Die-Cutting with Spellbinders 101 - I hope it will entice you to join us over at 201 and check out Spellbinders Projects that will be starting next month!

There's no school today so we're off on an adventure! Enjoy your day - thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, October 7

We decided to go on a little road trip to North Conway, NH and the car died in Fryeburg Maine. The steering just stopped steering - and we had to have it towed to a dealership in Scarborough. Since we had nothing else to do, we went to the ice cream shop across the street to wait for our ride to come get us - since we were over an hour from home it was a long wait.

I remember being thankful that there WAS an ice cream shop across the street and we weren't in the middle of no where, LOL.

I really miss that car!

Anyway....these pictures of my son tickled my fancy today! He had just turned 7, he looks so little compared to how tall and handsome he is now.